Community survey opens for Resilient SRQ recovery plans for Hurricanes Helene and Milton and Tropical Storm Debby

Sarasota County invites community members to participate in the newly launched Resilient SRQ unmet needs survey to provide feedback for the county’s recovery action plan. The survey results will help guide the use of funds for recovery efforts following Hurricanes Helene and Milton and Tropical Storm Debby in 2024.

The survey is open from Jan. 27 through Feb. 15, 2025 and can be found online at ResilientSRQ.net/survey. Paper copies are also at county libraries, the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension and Sustainability Sarasota office, and several community centers and parks. Additionally, paper copies and translatable surveys shall be available upon request.

Community members can also share feedback during one of the upcoming Resilient SRQ public meetings: 

• Feb. 5: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Public Library, 4143 Woodmere Park Blvd., Venice.
• Feb. 8: 2 to 4 p.m., Fruitville Public Library, 100 Apex Road, Sarasota.
• Feb. 13: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library, 2801 Newtown Blvd., Sarasota.
• Feb. 15: 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., Gulf Gate Public Library, 7112 Curtiss Ave., Sarasota.

Input from the survey and public meetings combined with federal, state and local data, will develop an action plan to address unmet needs in housing, infrastructure restoration, economic revitalization and disaster mitigation.

In 2023, Sarasota County created the Resilient SRQ program to manage recovery efforts for Hurricane Ian using $201.5 million in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds.

The county is now expecting to receive $210,094,000 in disaster recovery funding for 2024 storms. As part of the program, the county will submit an action plan outlining the use of CDBG-DR funds. All plans require approval by the Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners and HUD before funds are received and programs are officially launched.

To learn more or be notified about program updates, events and information, visit ResilientSRQ.net, call 941-861-5309 or email ResilientSRQ@scgov.net.

More information on future participation will be released as additional opportunities are finalized.

Additional information about Resilient SRQ and the CDBG-DR funds can also be found in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s media release and HUD's website.